San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-22
WOMAN'S LOVE.

Nay, good koturua, IL is not UnaU.
But, when Miriama first heard of this
excursion, her heart grew heavy with
fear and dread. Now that the chief is
really gone, it is heart no longer, but
stone that she carries in her bosom.
There are troubles coming, KOturua,
and Yes, that is well-laugh much
at Miriama, and let your laughter
sweep away her fears, for while they
remain she is miserable"
PAIL" returned KOturua. you have
grOwn'tired of too much happiness.
You feel the need of little trouble,
and so are trying to make it. KOturua
thinks you would be wiser to enjoy
your blessings and drive away such lit
tie fancies."
you are right, Koturua-you always
are. will weave mats so busily while
TIE ORR is away that there will be no
time for gresentiments. You did well
Several days passed and one after
noon Miriama was sitting in the shade
of large kauri-tree, working at her
baby was playing on the grass at her
feet, and at little distance KOturua
was scraping potatoes for the evening
meal.
"Koturua," she said at last, stopping
in her work to throw handful of
crimson blossoms over the head of the
baby, who crowed with delight and
clutched at the flowers with chubby
baby-hands - "Koturua, seven suns
have risen since TIE ORR went away;
when seven more have set, we may
look for his return, if he be not already
here. Half the time is gone, and all is
well. Lood at our little blOssOm-how
yes, the sweet onel" returned the
old woman, leaving her work to romp
with the child. did you think the sun
would stop shining because the chief
was awayp But" she continued, after
a pause, what ails the little blossom?
She is very hot"
Hot, is she? She should not be hot
in the shade of this big tree. Give her
to me, KOturua; she looks sleepy. |
will sooth her to rest in my arms"
But, in spite of the gentle lulling mo-
ton and low soft song, the baby could
not rest; and in a short time it was
plain that she was very ill, for the little
dark head was rolling from side to side
in delirium.
Poor Miriama hung over her in
speechless agony, fighting desperately
for her child's life over every inch of
the road to the grave. But it was all
in vain. On the fourth day, just as
the dark soft night, with outstretched
shadowy hand, was stealing slowly
over the eye of day, the Angel of Death
came, and with gentle finger waited to
close the eyes of the Maori baby.
One long conscious look into her
mothers agonized face she gave; then,
with slow sweet smile stealing over
her own, the heavy lids closed over the
winged its lonely flight to those mys-
"Oh, TIE ORR, TIE ORR, what shall l say
when you ask me for your daughterp
cried unhappy Miriama, as she broke
from her friends and rushed to hide
herself in the forest.
There, with her face pressed down
on the cool green moss, she lay for
hours battling with her pain.
The next day they buried the little
one; and then the poor mother sat
down to await her husbands return,
longing for his presence, yet for the
first time in her life dreading to meet
him. So she sat alone in her ,uhdre,
her face bowed to her knees, and rock
ing herself backward and forward in
her misery.
She was so absorbed in her painful
thoughts that she did not hear soft
football till low "Miriamal" fell upon
her ear. She sprang to her feet with
a scream of mingled joy and agony,
and flung herself into her husbands
arms.
"Te Oril Oh, TIE ORR" she walled,
drawing his face down to hers and
raining tears and kisses upon it, Il
have wanted you sol Could you not
hear my spirit calling yours through
the distance? My own, how miserable
are vel"
"My wife-the mother of my dead
child-the burden is indeed heavy for
us to BEAR" and, throwing her arms
tenderly around her, he mingled his
tears with hers.
"How did you know" she sObbed.
"HOw did l known he echoed, in
SURPRISE; and, holding her from him,
he looked at her fearfully. as grief
driving Miriama mad that she asks
silly uuestionsp